Comments on: Bass Amp EQ for Beginners

By: C Brakewell

C Brakewell — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:05:50 +0000

Hi there. I wished to let you know that some components of your website are onerous to read for me, as I am color blind. I am afflicted by tritanopia, however there are more forms of color blindness which will also experience difficulties. I can read the majority of the website Okay, and the elements I have problems with I can understand by using a custom browser. Neverthless, it would be cool if you can bear in mind we color-blind types while carrying out the next website re-working. Many Thanks.

By: Michael Ippersiel

Michael Ippersiel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:09:10 +0000

Hey Trace,
Thanks for the great question and you have no need to be embarrassed – I couldn’t answer your question either. However, I conducted a brief search and came up with the following link that should answer all of your questions for you – check it out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_amplifier#Power_amplifier_classes
I hope that helps!

By: Trace Wingo

Trace Wingo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:21:55 +0000

Okay, this is embarrassing since I have been playing Bass for 30 years but here goes. What is the difference in “Class A, B, C, D” amps? I have NO idea what it means?

By: Michael Ippersiel

Michael Ippersiel — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:12:47 +0000

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the great comments, it’s people like you that make writing this bass blog so rewarding. I’m glad that you found the post useful and hope that you’ll stick check out some other posts here or tell a friend! What you hear on stage definitely isn’t what the audience hears…great advice!

By: Craig Phillips

Craig Phillips — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:59:09 +0000

Hi Michael

This is a fantastic article. I’ve been a bass player now over 20 years, and EQing has always stumped me to a point. Tying to find that sweet spot can be trying and frustrating all at once. I currently run a Peavey 700 Tour Series head with an Ampeg 610 HLF, and playing a Yamaha TRB1005 bass with active pickups and EQ. Every gig I have ever played in my career, I’ve always had to adjust the EQ. It gets more complicated when you run active pickups and EQs on your bass (or guitar), because the sound is much hotter. When you only get a few minutes for sound check, this can give you very little room for adjustments. So what I do is go to my rig if there is a break in a song and tweak a frequency. One good tip is ALWAYS write down your settings, and at what place they were used at. This way when you go back to that club or bar, you just pull out your notebook and you are there.

Also you mentioned about the cost difference between tube and solid state amps. There is another factor to include. Tube bass amp are absolutely louder than solid state. For example, take what I run that Peavey 700. The tube head I’m looking at for an upgrade, is the Peavey VB-3 Pro, which is only 300 watts but it is all tube driven. That thing would smoke my 700 watt head in a heartbeat.

Sound is very subjective, everyone needs to remember that. What you hear on stage, is not what the audience hears. Tweaking the EQ is a necessary evil in the world of music.

Thanks again for this brilliant article.

Craig